Community news briefs for February 22, 2001

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2001 | 8:51 a.m.

Volunteers needed for new preserve

Staff at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve are looking for volunteers and will be hosting informational meetings during the coming months.

Anyone who might be interested in volunteering at the preserve, which is the site of an artesian spring that drew settlers to the Las Vegas Valley, is encouraged to attend a meeting. The preserve will also have a botanical garden that will teach visitors about Mojave Desert plants and effecient water use.

Meetings will be 6 to 8 p.m. on March 20, April 17 and May 22, and 1 to 3 p.m. March 17, April 7, and May 5. The meetings will be held at the Desert Demonstration Gardens, 3701 W. Alta Drive, near Valley View and Charleston boulevards.

For more information, log on to lvspringspreserve.org.

UNLV scientists to host discussion

UNLV scientists will explain options for high-level nuclear waste -- so far proposed to go inside a Yucca Mountain repository 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas -- during a town hall meeting from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Marjorie Barrick Museum auditorium.

The scientists include nuclear experts Gary Cerefice, professor William Culbreth and Anthony Hechanova. The meeting is free, but to reserve a parking space call UNLV Continuing Education at 895-3394.

Learn more about Galapagos

The University Forum lecture will feature a slide-illustrated presentation, "A Virtual Cruise of the Galapagos Islands," at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History at UNLV.

Shirley and David Emerson, professors emeritus from UNLV's departments of counseling and chemistry, will discuss the history of the volcanic islands that are located 400 miles west of Ecuador. For more information, call 895-3401.

New health center opens

North Las Vegas residents will now have access to Clark County Health District services at the new health center that became fully operational Wednesday.

A variety of services will be offered, including family planning and sexually transmitted disease clinics, immunizations, a senior foot-care clinic and health permits.

In July the old health center, which was on Civic Center Drive, was closed because of structural problems.

The new center, at 1820 E. Lake Mead Blvd., will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.